Nintendo Wii U Extends Screen, Stops Short of Mobile Gaming

Nintendo promised to offer gamers more content and new kinds of interaction with the introduction of Wii U, a handheld gaming device that pairs with the Wii game console.

"Up until now home console games had to occupy the TV screen to be played," said Nintendo President and CEO Satoru Iwata during the company's E3 press conference. "But the new controller for Wii U with a 6.2-inch screen built in means you won't need to give up your game play when someone else enters the room."

The device is still in its prototype stage and won't launch until 2012, but the company was eager to show off its capabilities.